Theory, Technology, and Practice of Site-Specific Insect Pest Management

Insects are usually unevenly distributed throughout an area in nature. Despite this knowledge, analytical methods and technology have limited insect pest management to uniform management decisions in the field. Recently, the methods and technology to map and analyze insect spatial distribution have been developed to a level where the uneven nature of insect populations can be considered for application of pest management tactics. This new approach to insect management is termed site-specific pest management. Site-specific pest management utilizes spatial information about pest distribution to apply control tactics only where pest density is economically high within a field. This review will detail the current status of site-specific insect pest management in agriculture, technological requirements, its limitations, and future potential.